Our path towards creating a more sustainable future
We believe that operating sustainably will bring opportunities for us to enhance the lives of our customers, people, partners, and community.
Sustainability is part of who we are at Acenda. It’s central to our ‘Promise for Life’ purpose and our goal to be Australia’s leading and most trusted life insurer.
We’re committed to doing business in a way that supports both global efforts – like tackling climate change – and the wellbeing of our local communities and our customers. Guided by our core value of ‘Doing what’s right’, we aim to make a lasting, sustainable difference and we’re looking ahead to what more we can achieve.
Our sustainability commitment
Sustainability is at the heart of Acenda’s vision and purpose.
As a life insurer, we recognise our responsibility to support the wellbeing of current and future generations. Our approach to sustainability is built around the four key pillars of Environment, People, Community, and Governance. These guide our actions and help us create a long-term, positive impact.
1 Operational emissions refer to Scope 1 and 2 emissions.
2 Senior leaders are Group 5 to 7 employees, including heads of teams, general managers, and executives.
3 Where employees are performing work of equal or comparable value.
Our impact
At Acenda, we believe meaningful change is measured by the difference we make – for our customers, communities, and planet. Guided by our sustainability pillars, we’ve taken deliberate steps to turn our commitments into action. From reducing our environmental footprint to supporting people and communities, here are some of the ways we’re making a positive impact.
Environment
Powering up with renewables: In July 2025, our Melbourne and Sydney offices transitioned to 100% GreenPower-accredited renewable electricity.1
Reducing our carbon footprint: We’ve exceeded our 2030 target to reduce our operational emissions by 51% compared to our 2019 baseline. In 2024, we significantly reduced our operational emissions compared to our 2019 baseline – achieving a 57% reduction (location-based) and an 83% reduction (market-based)2. These results reflect our ongoing commitment to environmental responsibility and climate action.
People
Promoting pay equity: We are committed to gender pay equity. We aim to maintain a less than 1% average pay differential between men and women performing work of equal or comparable value, reflecting our ongoing focus on transparency and equality.
Driving leadership gender diversity: We are committed to supporting gender diversity in leadership. We’re proud to continue to maintain our 40:40:20 senior leadership gender diversity target reflecting our commitment to inclusive leadership.
Working towards reconciliation: In 2024, we developed our first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), marking an important step in our commitment to strengthening relationships with First Nations peoples. Implementation is now underway, as we continue to build a more inclusive and respectful future.
Community
Creating opportunities for the next generation: We launched our inaugural community partnership with the Australian Business Community Network (ABCN) – an organisation dedicated to empowering young Australians through education and mentoring. Together, we’re helping to create opportunities for students, building skills, confidence, and brighter futures.
Supporting communities through volunteering: We support our people to volunteer their time and make a meaningful impact by offering two days of paid volunteer leave each year. In 2024 our people dedicated over 1,340 hours to volunteering with organisations that matter to them – reflecting our shared commitment to purpose-driven impact and community connection.
Governance
Advancing Board gender diversity: We have achieved 40% female representation among independent directors, aligned with our 40:40:20 independent director gender diversity goal.3
Investing responsibly: In 2024, we developed our Responsible Investment Policy, incorporating negative screening criteria which we regularly review to ensure that our investments remain in line with our sustainability objectives. Our implementation of this policy reinforces our commitment to ethical, sustainable, and long-term value-driven investment practices.
1GreenPower is a national government program to help businesses reduce Scope 2 emissions by matching business electricity use with accredited renewable electricity.
2Acenda does not currently generate any Scope 1 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are indirect emissions resulting from the consumption of purchased electricity in Acenda’s leased office buildings, over which it does not have operational control. Acenda calculates its Scope 2 GHG emissions using both the location-based and market-based methodologies to provide a comprehensive view of its electricity-related GHG emissions footprint. Scope 2 GHG emissions were calculated using the best available data and emissions factors as at 31 December 2024.
3The 40:40:20 model represents 40% male, 40% female, and 20% individuals who may identify as male, female, or another gender.
This information outlines the approach to sustainability of Nippon Life Insurance Australia and New Zealand Limited ABN 90 000 000 402 AFSL 230694, trading as Acenda (the Insurer). The Insurer is a member of the Nippon Life Group. Any reference to ‘Acenda’, ‘we’, ‘us’ and ‘our’ means the Insurer.